Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout
Lagunitas Brewing Company

Another beer that I had for the first time at the Bistro's West Coast Barrel Aged Beer Festival held on November 12, 2011.

Poured black with a thin ring of light brown head on the top, 1/6" deep. Aroma was of a mild contingent of bourbon first, then a tempered roasted malt quality, light sweetness in the nose.

Taste was a nice smooth experience. The mouth feel was chill, carbonation was lightly and appropriately muted to give the beer an even smoother texture. Mild notes of bourbon and oak, almost came off more like a whiskey barrel given the light sweetness and lack of a charred texture to the barrel. It isn't a gigantic kind of imperial stout, this was more in the vein of the well done Central Waters stuff moreso than a sludgefest Cigar City or Black Tuesday size beer.

This was my 12th beer of the day, and it was very much enjoyable. I don't think I've seen them put this in bottles, but if they did I'm sure it would be good and one of the best price points out there.

Taste: dark roasted malts, molasses, bourbon wood like notes with warm boozy sticky mouth-feel.
Bold smokey whiskey barrel nose.
Black, opaque, with tan foamy head. Full body. Complex and smooth out as it warms a bit. A true sipper.